A WOMAN serving a suspended prison sentence for setting fire to the 12th century parish church of St John's at Cutcombe has been in trouble again.

Grace Coles, of Wheddon Cross, was sentenced to 12 months' jail suspended for two years on March 8 for arson at the church, causing damage of nearly £120,000, and was said to have a "formidable" record of offending which included 22 previous court appearances.

She was listed again at Taunton Crown Court this week but did not appear.

Judge Richard Bromilow said she was in the building but did not wish to appear and Mrs Emma Martin, defending, agreed, saying: "She's a shy lady."

She said her history included an addiction to alcohol and her sentence included keeping away from alcohol and co-operating with services.

Applying for a "full medical psychiatric report", she said there was no application for bail.

The judge said Coles' breach related to not complying with the requirement that she underwent mental health treatment for six months, having missed some appointments without excuse, and faking a 999 call was a further offence.

Coles was remanded in custody for three weeks.